ATU Local 689 has launched an online petition calling on local District officials to move forward on the DC Streetcar and rehire workers who want to unionize. "While the DC Streetcar has boosted economic development along the H Street corridor, it hasn’t fulfilled its promise of reconnecting neighborhoods or improving mobility," says Local 689. "Instead of DDOT exercising oversight of the streetcar, it has outsourced responsibility to French-owned RDMT/McDonald Transit. The result: lack of transparency, poor design, constant delay, safety concerns, and a hostile work environment for employees, including the mass termination of eight workers for union activity." H Street-area residents deserve transit that works, and streetcar operators deserve the right to representation, the union adds. "The time for action on the streetcar is now. No more costly delays, no more worker intimidation. Fix it, staff it, start it!" Unionists, Latinos, undocumented workers and their allies stepped up their crusade for workplace rights for the undocumented, with a May 18 press conference in DC highlighting what should have been a chance for millions to file for legal status. Instead, thanks to a federal judge’s injunction in Texas, which the Obama administration is appealing, the first day of filing, May 19, was marked by marches and demonstrations nationwide for legalization. The labor movement pledged to step up efforts to teach and coach the estimated seven million undocumented workers on how to gather the proper documents and prepare to seek the right to stay in the U.S. “We are going to ensure workers are ready to apply for it” – legal status – “and to fight for it,” said United Food and Commercial Workers Executive Vice President Esther Lopez. “What’s been deferred is our dream” of becoming citizens and contributing to the U.S., said worker Carlos Castillo. “They’ve been halted because of politics.”
- Mark Gruenberg, PAI UFCW 400 welcomed workers at the Falls Church Bestway to the union last week. “The workers ratified their first contract and join their fellow UFCW Local 400 Bestway employees from Silver Spring, Maryland,” reports Local 400. In other Local 400 news, the local is now posting photos of actions, seminars and more on their newest social channel, Instagram. If your local is also on Instagram -- or another social network -- let us know [[email protected]] and we’ll add it to our list of affiliate social media. - UFCW 400 website A new electoral collaboration of community and labor organizations that share concerns about issues impacting working families in Virginia kicks off Monday morning (see Calendar) by announcing endorsements for the Arlington County Board and several other Virginia races. Calling itself Opportunity Virginia 2015, the collaboration is focused on backing candidates who will stand with working families and support diverse communities of immigrants, people of color, and young voters in what activists are calling the New Dominion state...
|